Chapter 3 – Spotlight

Ally wasn’t sure how long she’d been staring at her own reflection.

She had changed her outfit three times before settling on a white T-shirt with a hand-drawn bear stitched across the front, one button eye replaced by a stitched X. She had bought it months ago because she thought it looked like the kind of shirt she’d wear if she were a little braver.

Tonight, she finally was. At least that’s what she told herself. A sigh escaped her as a knot formed in her stomach. She swallowed and stepped away from the mirror before it drove her insane. Her phone buzzed.

Saved you the chair in the front row. Don’t be late :P.

Ally smiled to herself as she read the message.

Wouldn’t dare. See you in ten.

Better make it in five. I NEED you!

A quiet chuckle left her. Five minutes. Her eyes flicked to the clock on her lock screen. A grin spread on her lips. She could make that.

Strings’n’Stews wasn’t some restaurant. It was a cozy place which turned into nights of music, comedy or even dramas every weekend. Small artists got a chance here to perform and to show what they could in front of an audience.

Ally stood in front of it, watching a couple through the window. A young man fed his girlfriend, letting her taste his chocolate cake while she offered him a sip of her milkshake. She bit her lip and shook her head before heading inside.

The moment she stepped through the door, Ally was pulled into a hug and a burst of laughter.

„I’ll let it slip that you took seven minutes. But I am so glad you’re here!“

Stephanie was practically glowing. Ally didn’t even need to see her expression to know how excited she was. With an arm around Ally’s shoulders, Steph led her through the place.

„Mind you, these streets still confuse me, and it seems random men love to run into me.“

Stephanie laughed.

„Tell me you’re new without telling me.“

„Hey, I’m here for a few months now!“

A man behind the bar watched them with an amused smile. Ally met his gaze, and his grin widened.

„You must be Ally.“

Ally blinked. Stephanie immediately groaned.

„Dad, I told you to stay away from my friend.“

„What? I just said hello.“

„You said hello like you’ve already interviewed her.“

„I was curious.“

„Exactly my point.“

Stephanie gently pushed Ally away from him.

„Come, before he decides to embarrass me.“

„He seems nice.“

Stephanie hummed, pretending like she wasn’t convinced about that. But her smile said another story.

In the corner on the right was the stage. Instruments lined the wall behind it for those who would like to borrow or decided spontaneously to perform. Ally spotted an acoustic guitar, a bass guitar, a small drum set, an electric piano and in the center stood the microphone attached to a stand.

„Wow,“ Ally said.

„It’s nothing special but enough for some fun nights.“

„I can imagine...“

Stephanie smiled while watching Ally as if she had hoped for a certain kind of reaction. She pointed at a black armchair close to the stage.

„That’s your spot. If you act like my number one fan, everyone will see.“

„I wouldn’t have to act.“

The words escaped before Ally could catch them.

Stephanie’s smile faded enough to leave something quieter behind. She searched Ally’s face for a second longer than usual.

Neither of them said anything.

„Well, this is the perfect spot to take photos. I need you to be my personal photographer, and please take some videos too... Pretty please?“

Ally laughed and nodded.

„I can do that. Anything else?“

„No, just... thank you for being here.“

Ally smiled.

„Go, sing and show them what Steph is made of.“

Something warmed up inside of Ally when those blue eyes stayed on her for longer than usual. She turned her head, looking away when it became too much.

Stephanie stepped onto the small stage to a chorus of cheers from the regulars and those who’d seen her in front of the hotel.

„Go, Steph!“ A young man shouted.

Her grin widened as she adjusted the microphone.

„You people clap before I even do anything,“ she laughed. „That’s dangerous. Now you have expectations.“

A few groans and playful boos answered her.

„Oh, don’t worry,“ she continued. „If I forget the lyrics, my dad legally has to pretend it was artistic.“

„Absolutely not,“ her father called from behind the counter.

Laughter rippled through the room. Stephanie looked toward Ally. Their eyes met for a second.

„There’s someone here tonight who’s never heard me perform properly before.“

Ally felt several heads turn. Heat rushed into her cheeks. She bit her lip, looking away sheepishly.

„So...“ Stephanie rubbed the back of her neck. „No pressure, right?“

She laughed at herself before adjusting the guitar strap over her shoulder. The room settled into silence while Ally fumbled with her phone. She tapped the wrong app twice before opening the camera. There was a subtle tremble in her hands as she raised her phone.

The first song began quietly. Stephanie’s fingers danced across the strings while her voice filled the restaurant with an ease that made the remaining conversations near the back disappear. Forks paused halfway to mouths before lowering completely. A service boy slowed as he collected dishes from a table. He’d heard her before but it felt like the first time all over again.

Ally almost forgot to record and to take pictures at all. She blinked and tapped the white, round button, taking several shots, then switched to recording clips.

Stephanie chuckled into the microphone after missing a chord towards the end of her first song.

„So much for professional,“ she joked.

The people laughed with her while Ally took another photo. Her grin grew the longer she watched.

The next song followed. A little girl sitting with her parents near the stage began swaying her legs in rhythm. Stephanie noticed and threw her a smile without interrupting the song. The girl smiled back.

Tap.

Ally took that shot. Pride swelled inside of her. It was probably her best photo yet. She lowered her phone afterwards, and watched Stephanie. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She wanted people to feel something. That realization settled somewhere unexpectedly deep inside of Ally.

The applause after the second song was louder than before. To Ally it was new, different to the street performances. Someone even whistled, but Stephanie rolled her eyes. Ally held back a giggle. She had seen it was her dad who tried to encourage the audience to cheer.

Stephanie shook her head.

„... Seriously?“

„One more!“ The woman from the young couple demanded.

Stephanie laughed.

„You’re lucky. I’ve got six more whether you like it or not.“

Her eyes found Ally briefly despite the new wave of cheers as if verifying she was still there. She smiled at her in a way Ally felt like it was reserved for selected people.

By the fourth song, Ally had taken dozens of pictures and videos. She laughed when she looked through them. Most were good, but it were the blurry ones Ally had to laugh about because they showed Stephanie refused to stand still for at least two seconds.

„That girl is impossible...“

But then it happened when Stephanie reached a quieter bridge of an original song. The whole room became completely silent.

Ally didn’t raise her phone again. She watched, eyes glued to the singer. She noticed her standing beneath the warm amber lights, eyes closed, one hand on the microphone while the other absentmindedly tapped the rhythm against the guitar.

She looks... free.

Ally felt a tingle in her stomach. But she also remembered Becca’s words in the locker room. She always finds someone else eventually. She watched Stephanie on stage, glowing under the amber lights. Becca didn’t know her. It couldn’t be.

Only everyone’s clapping pulled her out of her trance. Those blue eyes found hers first after the song ended. It was just for a second but enough for Ally to feel that tingle again.

People lined up as soon as the performance ended, everyone wanting a moment with Stephanie, sharing their compliments and even taking pictures with her. Ally watched with a smile as Stephanie crouched for the little girl while her mother took the picture. Her father clapped his daughter’s back eventually and pulled her into a hug.

„That’s my girl!“ He boasted.

„Dad!“

Stephanie laughed and squeezed out of his bear hug. A few more approached her as Ally waited, fumbling with the phone awkwardly. Someone asked if she will play next Friday too. Another person wanted to know if she had social media. Stephanie smiled and laughed through all of it, but every few seconds she glanced across the room.

Ally met her gaze every single time and realized Stephanie kept checking whether she was still there.

Eventually, Stephanie escaped. She practically exhaled when she reached Ally.

„Sorry.“

Ally blinked.

„For what?“

„This,“ Stephanie gestured at the crowd awkwardly, „I didn’t think they would...“

„Stop,“ Ally chuckled. „They love you.“

„What?“

„You made a whole restaurant stop eating.“

„Oh please, I’m not even close to...“

„Steph. You belong on stage.“

Stephanie’s smile faltered.

„You think so?“

Ally blinked.

„Of course.“

„My mom used to say that... Before she left.“

The words hung between them.

Stephanie shook her head quickly, forcing a laugh.

„Sorry. That’s not... I don’t know why I said that.“

Ally didn’t push, but said, „I’m glad you did.“

It was silent between them for a moment. Stephanie held Ally’s gaze for a long beat, searching as if she had to convince herself she heard it the right way. Then she spotted Ally’s phone, still in her hands.

„Got anything good?“ She asked.

Ally looked down, biting her lip.

„Got quite a lot...“

She opened it as Stephanie stepped up beside her, shoulder almost touching Ally’s.

Ally swiped through the pictures until some of the blurry ones appeared. Stephanie snorted.

„Wow...“

„What?“

„That one should be deleted...“

„No,“ Ally said. „I think that’s very you.“

The photo in question showed Stephanie in the amber light, eyes closed. It was slightly blurred but somehow it made the picture just right. Silence returned for a beat. Ally swiped through more pictures until Steph stepped away slightly.

„Send them over, all of them,“ she said.

Ally nodded, and just like that Stephanie was pulled back by a group of fans once more.

Later, Mr. Vance began guiding people out as he intends to close. His staff wiped the counter, collected and cleaned the remaining glasses and brought the trash outside. Ally was still there. For a second she simply watched everyone until her gaze landed on Steph’s arm flexing as she stacked chairs on the table. Without saying a word, Ally grabbed a nearby chair and put it up on the table while the service worker, Damien as Ally found out, swept the floor with a broom. Stephanie looked up.

„You don’t have to do that.“

„I know.“

There was a beat of silence between them.

„You’re something else, you know that?“ Stephanie said.

Ally chuckled and shook her head.

„I’m not doing anything special. Now let me help you.“

Stephanie smiled at that.

„Thank you.“

Mr. Vance watched them, for once holding back a teasing remark.

It took them less than half an hour to clean up everything and lock up the restaurant. Ally was about to turn to leave when Stephanie grabbed her wrist.

„Wait, there’s a place I know,“ she began, shifting on her feet slightly. „It’s not that late yet, I thought we could sit for a bit... Just you and me.“

Ally’s eyes lit up before she could stop herself.

„I’d love to.“

Ally’s eyes widened when she overlooked the rooftops of New York City. Stephanie had led her through a side alley behind her father’s restaurant and through the backdoor of his separate storage room which led up to the rooftop. She wasn’t used to the big city yet. It was entirely different to the small town she knew. But this was something she wouldn’t experience there. In her town she had fields of cattle and horses, and the sea. She missed that a lot. The seafood shacks serving shrimp and fish. The elevated beach houses with its bright colors and the warm climate.

„It’s beautiful, isn’t it?“ Stephanie pulled her out of her memories. She had watched Ally taking everything in.

„Yeah,“ she breathed out. „It’s... it is different to what I am used to, though.“

Stephanie smiled and took her hand, leading her closer to the edge where self-made benches of beer crates with worn chair cushions on top stood.

„When I moved here I didn’t think such place existed,“ Ally admitted, her gaze taking in the towering skyscrapers and what’s beyond. „Something peaceful like this.“

„It’s rare here. That’s why I call it my secret spot.“ Stephanie confessed. A quiet chuckle left her.

Ally laughed.

„Well, I should be honored then.“

„Absolutely,“ Stephanie teased.

They sat down next to each other. Silence settled in for a moment. The city hummed below them, distant and unimportant.

„You know,“ Stephanie said quietly, „I’ve never brought anyone here before.“

Ally’s heart stuttered.

„Why me?“

Stephanie shrugged, but her eyes didn’t leave the skyline.

„Because you don’t look at me like I’m just the singer or the weirdo.“

„Because you’re not.“

Stephanie met her gaze briefly. Silence was about to settle in again.

„My dad took me to Rodeo Austin once. It was quite the experience and I totally suck at line dance. But I enjoyed the vibes.“

Ally chuckled.

„I would love to see you dance.“

„No, you don’t want that.“

„That bad?“

Stephanie released an exaggerated sigh.

„Well, if dad decides to host another rodeo-night I might be willing to show you.“

„If you do, I’ll do ONE karaoke night with you.“

Now Stephanie’s eyes lit up.

„Oh really? That’s all it took to convince you?“

She stood up with a sudden burst of energy, pulling out her phone to play a perfect song for line dance. Stephanie bowed, tipping her invisible cowboy head before performing a few awkward steps out of rhythm. Ally laughed and watched. In her chest, she felt some newfound courage building up. She stood and joined Stephanie, showing her what she’d learned back home. It was the most fun night Ally had so far in New York City, but her eyes never gleamed in that way they did right now before. All it took was a girl with blue eyes who sang like the world disappeared when she did.